WAR HORSE Hosts Opening Night Party at Arts Centre Melbourne on New Year's Eve

Arts Centre Melbourne is offering audiences the chance to ring in the New Year with Joey, everyone's favourite War Horse. A strictly limited number of tickets to War Horse and the Official War Horse Opening Night Party on New Year's Eve are now on sale, offering fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the Australian premiere of the production. They will then then rub shoulders (or manes) with War Horse cast members, including the life-sized horse puppet Joey, and wine and dine with some of Australia's entertainment royalty at the exclusive after-party.

To be held at Arts Centre Melbourne's ANZ Pavilion following the War Horse opening night performance in the State Theatre, the Official War Horse Opening Night Party also offers attendees a perfect view of Melbourne's skyline and the traditional City of Melbourne New Year's Eve Fireworks from the private terrace and balcony.

Partygoers will graze on canapés from Arts Centre Melbourne's thoroughbred culinary team, including award-winning Chef Nicolas Poelaert, former Head Chef of French restaurant Embrasse, who is now heading up the kitchen at Brooks.

A portion of the ticket price will help support Arts Centre Melbourne's Families and Youth program, a year-round catalogue of performing arts, workshops and events to engage our community's youngest arts connoisseurs.

The National Theatre of Great Britain's smash hit production, War Horse, is set to be the hottest show of summer. Since its world premiere in London in 2007, War Horse has won numerous prestigious awards including two Laurence Olivier Awards, five Tony Awards and four Outer Critics' Circle Awards amongst a host of others.

Nick Stafford's stage adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's book, War Horse is a magnificent drama, which tells the heart-wrenching story of Joey, the beloved horse of a boy named Albert. Sold to the cavalry at the outbreak of World War I and shipped to France, Joey is soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary odyssey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man's land. But Albert cannot forget Joey and he embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home.

For more information visit artscentremelbourne.com.au or phone 1300 182 183. Become a fan of Arts Centre Melbourne on Facebook or follow @artscentremelb on Twitter.

Arts Centre Melbourne presents the Official War Horse Opening Night Party at Arts Centre Melbourne, ANZ Pavilion at 8pm on Monday 31 December 2012. The party will commence at approx. 10 pm. Tickets: $350 (includes A Reserve ticket to War Horse); $230 (Opening Night Party only). The National Theatre of Great Britain and Global Creatures present in association with Arts Centre Melbourne War Horse Arts Centre Melbourne, State Theatre, from Sunday 23 December 2012 to Sunday 10 February.